Argentine Congress Claims Falklands

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE The World

April 27, 1990

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — Argentina's Congress voted Thursday to claim the Falkland Islands, eight years after losing a war with Britain over the remote South Atlantic archipelago. Britain immediately objected to the measure, which appeared to be largely symbolic. The legislation, approved despite opposition by Argentina's foreign ministry, declares the Falklands - known in Argentina as the Malvinas - to be part of the new Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego. It covers the Sandwich and South Georgia islands, also British possessions. In London, a spokesman for the British Foreign Office said: ''We don't accept this or any other Argentinian claim to British territory.'' Britain has held the Falklands since 1833. In 1982, Britain and Argentina fought a 74-day war over the windswept islands, causing the deaths of nearly 1,000 men.